aggiebrandon

I was driving on the highway the other day and my ac started blowing hot air. I noticed a little smoke coming out from under my hood as I was stopping. It was the compressor belt, it had snapped and was cooking on the engine. I removed it and made it back into town. I went and bought a new belt and put it on and as soon as I started the car it started screaching because the belt was trying to spin but the pulley to the compressor wasn't. I have asked a coupple of mechanics about fixing the system and they told me that it was going to be at least $1100 because all these different parts need replaced on imports when the ac quits working. Is this true? I am just a college student and can't afford repairs of that magnitude! Can I just not switch out the ac clutch or compressor and get cold air again? Way too hot in Texas during the summer for no ac. Thanks in advance.